I used prednisone for cough/asthma three times this past year so I was notified I will be taking an additional medication. I assume that means the Wixela I’m already taking now, plus a mystery medication. I will learn more tomorrow.

Isn't it interesting - we have been reading each other's posts for a while now, and here we are with a group just for the oh-so-common, but different for each person condition of asthma.

My story goes back many years - when I was seeing a substitute doc for (yet another) bout with bronchitis over 30 years ago, she asked "How do you manage your asthma?" I must have looked as stunned as I felt, because she added "Has anyone ever told you that you have asthma before?"

This was an AHA moment for me - ever since my teen years, I had intermittent breathing issues, which my husband attributed to me being "out of shape" even though I was a runner, biker and skier and kept up with 2 active kids. The problems always occurred in conjunction with cold, or hot humid weather, or in the midst of an allergy attack or respiratory infection. Every cold seemed to turn into bronchitis, a sinus infection or pneumonia. Early on control was achieved with Singulair and albuterol inhalers, plus steroids as needed, and I stayed healthy for close to 20 years - even though the albuterol made me shake like a leaf.

Fast forward 25 years, I was having intractable asthma attacks, constant bouts of bronchitis, coughing constantly, exhausted and losing weight. I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, Pseudomonas and a Mycobacteria infection in my lungs. After 18 months of antibiotics, the infection was under control, the coughing gone, etc. But the Bronchiectasis and asthma - still here, for the rest of my life. And I was dealing with a tight chest, more shortness of breath than should be, and increasing intolerance for the side effect of albuterol/levalbuterol.

My pulmonologist added Symbicort, I keep up my Bronchiectasis airway clearance, and I'm back in control. She explained that Symbicort was originally approved for COPD, but now is the second line of defense for asthmas - turns out the continuous low dose of an inhaled steroid plus the long-acting beta-agonist works well for many of us, and I am now mostly controlled. I am glad that there are now alternatives to lugging a nebulizer everywhere we go. And I am happy that there are now biologics to help those for whom inhalers are not enough.
Sue

I developed asthma as a adult after a series of respiratory infections. I started having sinus issues and developed seasonal allergies. I had one calendar year where I kept getting respiratory infections, actually I was sick 8 times in 12 months for about 2 weeks each time. This was back in the 80's when I was a young adult. Finally after a lot of this, I saw the primary care doctor who made a remark that I probably had pneumonia. I had been using a cough suppressant and sleeping sitting up because if I layed down, all I did was cough, and that was probably a mistake to try to suppress phlegm rather that help it move out with an expectorant. It was after this, that I developed chest tightness and was diagnosed with asthma and issued an Albuterol rescue inhaler.

I have allergies that trigger my eosinophilic asthma, and I have thoracic outlet syndrome that make my chest wall too tight on one side of my ribs. It has at times restricted my chest wall movement resulting in trapped phlegm that causes a chest infection. This can periodically happen and it usually starts as a sinus infection, and when I feel my throat start to get a bit sore from post nasal drip and my resting heart rate goes up a little bit, I know it has moved into my lungs and my air absorption is restricted by phlegm.

I found a solution for this because of being a Mayo surgical patient where I was asked to preemptively treat for nasal infections with an antibiotic ointment in my nose for several days before surgery. This works great to quickly clear my sinus/lung issues and I breathe better again. My doctor lets me keep a prescription on hand for this.

I also have done work with my physical therapist and done myofascial release to get my chest wall and lungs moving better. That helps a lot and improves the functioning of the weaker left side. Exercise does help keep my lungs working better.

I pay attention how I feel from day to day and tend to stay inside in my filtered air when there are high mold spores counts outside during damp weather. Molds are a very big trigger for me and I need to avoid them as much as possible because medications are not enough. I also do allergy shots, but really don't like doing it, but it does help when allergies flare.

Jennifer